Impala Hotel

Das Impala Hotel ist nicht amerikanisch sondern eher europäisch.
Es wurde im März 2012 neu eröffnet nach Renovation & Umbau. Überzeugt haben uns der sehr freundliche Empfang, das sehr gute Wi-​Fi im Zimmer, ein hübsch gemachter Eingangabereich (da der Eingang ein wenig versteckt ist und nicht vorn an der Hauptstrasse), die sehr hübschen Zimmer, der spezielle charme und die super bequemenen Betten mit Anti-​allergenen bettbezügen.
Die Lage ist phänomenal — ruhig aber doch mitten drin. Es sind nur 2 Minuten bis zum Strand & Ocean Drive oder Espanola Way.
Früstück wird im dazugehörigen Restaurant ‘Spiga’ serviert. Anders als in den Ami hotels gibts hier kein Buffet, dafür wird serviert. Das nennt sich French Continental Breakfast. Neben Kaffe, Tee oder Schokolade gibts einen Orangensaft, ein Baguette, Croissant & Schoko-​Bötli, dazu noch einen Fruchtsalat & ein Nature Joghurt
Um sich das ganze auch gleich wieder abzutrainieren gibts im Fitnessstudio nebenan (Crunch Fitness) kostenloser Eintritt.

Charming, with a European feel. The entrance is through an iron gate between buildings, which is easy to miss, but once you walk through you’ll be transported across the ocean. The staff is eager to help and make recommendations on where to dine and what to see.
Rooms have an old world charm as well, with terazzo floors. I’ve subtracted one star for bath towels that were a bit frayed from age, and an alley cat that lives outside the window. It meowed all night for two nights.

Very accommodating staff in this lively quiet retreat right in the heart of Miami Beach. One block to gorgeous beach and they provide beach bag and towels. Our room was smaller to meet our budget but had the the accoutrements one could desire including in room espresso and big bathroom. Highly recommended!

No complaints here! The price was very good (via
), the staff was remarkably friendly, and most importantly the room was very clean and spacious!
As other Unilocalers have noted, this is a no-​frills hotel. Quite frankly, it’s very simple, but I prefer this over kitschy decorations you may find in other boutique hotels. We stayed in the king suite and it was plenty spacious for me and my boyfriend, with comfortable (and again, CLEAN) sheets. The bathroom was lovely, with a large fogged window which let in plenty of light during the daytime.
In terms of amenities, there aren’t really any, except for the complimentary water bottles, Nespresso machine, and the beach bag (with beach towels). No pool or gym (although you do have free access to the Crunch gym around the corner of the block), but who really needs all that when the beach is only a few steps away?
The staff members, from those at the front desk to the housekeepers, were all very friendly and made sure their guests were comfortable. They even offer to hold your room key for you when you leave (which is an actual metal key with a heavy key chain attached to it).
The location was awesome. It is right on Collins Ave, only a block away from Lummus Park Beach! Best part is that the hotel is a bit hidden away, behind the Spiga restaurant, so it’s still very quiet. Which brings me to the point that this isn’t really a «party hotel» with music bumping throughout the night, or people stumbling in drunk and making loud noises in the lobby/​hallway (which I appreciated).
Would stay here again!

Wonderful boutique hotel!
From the moment you step off the sidewalk you feel transported from the bustling Collins Ave to what I imagine a villa in Italy would look like. The lobby is tastefully decorated. My room was a VERY spacious King and so comfortable. It felt like the master bedroom in a home. The bathroom was unbelievable with a large open shower, spacious vanity and high end finishes. Romantic would best describe it.
Challenges: My bed was unmade when I arrived. I informed the front desk on my way out. They corrected the problem and left a complimentary bottle of wine for the inconvenience. Nice touch.
No more than 2 people in a room at time. I was with a group of 8 (they stayed at a different hotel). The foreign young man at the front desk abrasively informed us of the policy when we entered the lobby. My group is a bit rowdy and responded in kind. Sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it. Still, I don’t think he meant to be rude. Cultural differences I suppose. He attempted to explain himself after they left which I appreciated. Showed he cared.
Many other reviews talk about the noise from nearby establishments. Well it’s South Beach! That’s like going camping and complaining about the crickets! I do think it would be a kind gesture to leave earplugs in the rooms for guests who are bothered by the noise. Small expense, BIG impact.
Room Service is available from a small restaurant in the building.
I got a good deal on
. $ 400 total for 4 days/​3 nights which is awesome for the location.

My husband and I had never been to Miami before so we wanted something near the beach. We stayed at the Hotel Impala for 2 nights and were pleasantly surprised. We were very happy with the price we paid for being in a spot so close to the beach.
The room and bathroom were clean. Bed was comfy. My impression is that this is a pet friendly hotel which is always a plus for me (even though our puppy stayed home this time). We were greeted one night by a sweet little dog in the lobby. Had I not seen the dog, I would have never known it was there — very quiet and well behaved.
We parked in a parking ramp on 13^th and Collins for $ 20 per day.
I only have one minor complaint, the noise. The second night we stayed, the music from a nearby club was so loud that that things in our room vibrated ALL NIGHT! The music was still going when we finally decided to leave at 5:00AM. We made a comment about the noise to the man at the front desk who was very apologetic and said he wished he had known because the club will usually turn down the music if they are asked to.
So, for next time (because we would definitely stay here again), I’ll bring ear plugs and let the front desk know about the noise.
Thanks for a great stay!

I’d give this place 3.5 stars. It was nice to get away from the hustle and bustle of Collins Ave at the end of the day, but there were lots of little things that this place could have done better — especially for the price!
I think we were probably placed in the smallest room they had to offer. It was barely big enough for a queen sized bed and a wall-​mounted television. This didn’t bother us too much since we were mostly there to sleep. The one window it had faced out into the neighboring hotel’s room so we had to keep the blinds drawn the entire time, which made the room very dark.
The room itself was relatively clean and despite dragging some sand in almost every day, it was obvious they at least swept. We did find two small roaches in the shower but they were nothing compared to NYC roaches. I guess bugs are just expected of a tropical climate though.
Another con was that they were out of several amenities that their guestbook said they’d have, including sunscreen and after sun which was supposed to be included in their beach bag (but they didn’t even have when we asked about it at the front desk) and a disposable razor. I’m not sure about other products were listed though.
Their outdoor patio/​alley is very cozy and they’ll let you smoke and drink your own alcohol out there, which is pretty nice. Beware of mosquitoes though!
We had no trouble with noise at all, and we stayed over New Years Eve, which I think would be the loudest night of all. I think it helps that the hotel is set away from the street. However, I’ve lived in NYC before so maybe I’m just used to street noise.
The toiletries included in the room were pretty standard — soap, body wash, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion. They were somewhat strangely coconut-​smelling, which I’m not a fan of, but they did make my hair soft and smooth.
The front desk personnel was always courteous and friendly, and we got some pretty good restaurant recommendations from them.
Can’t speak for the valet; we didn’t drive. Also beware of no elevator, but we just had a couple of carry-​ons so that wasn’t an issue for us either.
All in all, I think I’d pay an extra couple of hundred dollars and stay somewhere else but The Impala is an okay deal for the money (I also realize I stayed over possibly the busiest/​most expensive nights of the year, so take that into account).

I love this hotel! This was my first time in south beach so I was excited anyway. Just got back from a cruise and wanted to relax for a few days before heading back to the real world and Impala was the perfect place. It’s walking distance to everything going on food, night clubs, the beach, and shopping. Roman was awesome! This is definitely a place for couples to visit my girlfriend and I are planning out next trip to south beach and The Impala hotel soon.

For price + Location this is the best deal in Miami Beach… but bonus, it is luxurious and modern also!
Minor inconveniences though to be aware of: 1. no Elevator, you must lug your suitcase up the stairs. 2. No parking, they don’t mention this. There is a parking garage caddy-​corner though so its easy to get to. Estimate ~$ 25/​night for parking only. 3. hard to find at night, the entrance is hidden and there is no large sign, just a small archway set way back from the sidewalk. 4. they act like breakfast is included but it is not. no big deal but fyi
These are just things to be aware of though, not huge issues. Would stay here again! Beach, restaurants, shopping, nightlife, are all within 5 minutes walking distance.
I miss hearing the little courtyard frog (in the fountain) chirping. He was great! He only chirps/​comes out after dark so don’t miss him.

I wouldn’t recommend this hotel to any one, even a last resort option. Which was my case. I have stayed in Miami before but never stay here again. For one night it was 200 dollars with no parking and valet is an extra 25 dollars. But that wasn’t the issue. For that much a night or so we got a room towards the back where the exit is for staff (I’m assuming). Well how can any one sleep with all the indoor and outdoor traffic going on. You can hear everything. This should not even be an option for a room. So I pretty paid to stay up all night which I feel I could have done on the ocean Blvd. Anyways the night staff was nice And friendly. But the morning staff made no accommodations to our bad experience. He said, «the only thing he could really do was offer me breakfast, but that’s over «. Well thanks for letting me know what I could have got for inconvenience. Definitely work on customer service more.

Thanks for the great stay, Roman is a great representative for this property. Very friendly and helpful, I made a mistake on my reservation but Roman helped take care of us. We will be back, great room, great location I would recommend this property.

The hotel is no frills but in a perfect location in the middle of all that’s happening in South Beach. It was clean but there is no elevator. We had to ask for more towels as there were too few in the room. The staff was nice and helpful. I liked that there was a small drink fridge in the room. It was very inexpensive and was a nicer place than I expected for the price.

Impala Hotel is excellent in all categories! My wife and I moved from a hotel located on Ocean Drive to get away from the loud music and beach front traffic noise. Walking into the lobby, we were greeted with the super nice staff and offered two rooms at a discount! This was a kind gesture considering we just ‘walked’ in without reservations. Hotel is one block from Ocean Drive; walking distance from the beach and few blocks from Lincoln shopping area. Another convenience is the adjacent Italian restaurant, Spiga, that sits right in front of the hotel. The rooms are very ‘Italian’ like, clean, comfortable, spacious, and most importantly, quiet. We’d definitively repeat a stay here again and recommend to others.

4.75 stars. This is a brilliant hotel to book if you value both intimacy and proximity to all the action on South Beach. If you are making a business trip, then you should probably book elsewhere only because the hotel’s strengths are comfort based as opposed to maximizing your office needs. In my mind, this is desirable.
If you are taking a cab, tell them that you are going to Spiga. It’s very difficult to see the Impala Hotel from the street because it is located directly behind the restaurant. Check in and enter your room. One aspect I truly loved about Impala is how the light orange, brown, and red hues created an additional layer of comfort and relaxation to the experience. You won’t get that in an ordinary hotel. The beds are very high quality material and simply marvelous compared to other competitors. Your Moen shower is beautifully modern and complete with a second hose. You will find darker brown hues in your bathroom and an incredible stone sink. Basically, combine high quality materials, thoughtfully laid out design, and an air of modernity, and you have the formula for what makes Impala Hotel a worthwhile experience.
Impala isn’t for someone who just wants to watch TV in their room all day. You are within two blocks of the beach. one block of La Sandwicherie, a few blocks of Café Charlotte and Puerto Sagua, and your hotel is attached to Spiga. For adventurous people, the World Erotic Art Museum (yes, I went) was a block from the hotel as well. All the bars and clubs on Ocean Drive are walking distance. Really, only a couple of places I went on Bay Rd. required me to take a cab. I can’t stress how ideally located Impala is for the person who wants to maximize their time in South Beach.
As an added bonus, the staff is rather knowledgeable of the area and willing to help on a variety of subjects, including but not limited to dinner, parties, shopping, haircuts, and even i-​phone chargers. The staff, especially Maggie and Romain, made my trip infinitely more relaxing.
The hotel can be expensive. My four night stay averaged to a cut above $ 300/​night and it would have been nice to have spent less than that on my hotel. Then again, I do think that the quality of Impala is top end.
On my next trip to South Beach, it is unquestionable that I would book this hotel again.

The staff are amazing and very courteous. The location was perfect, in the middle of all the fun, yet tucked away a bit off the street so it was quite. The place has the feel of being in Spain, and the rooms are clean and spacious. It’s very hard to find a hotel with a tub to soak in in South Beach, so it was a big plus to find they had some rooms with tubs. I will definitely stay at The Impala again. Cheers.

5 star hotel experience at 3 star prices. Great location, newly renovated rooms on Collins Ave. A quaint hotel that seemed very european, unlike big american hotels. I will stay there again for sure.

The hotel Impala for me was the most adorable, quaint, cozy and perfect for my South Beach getaway. I loved it and will stay there again when I go back. The staff while not always around for a city that never sleeps was overall very helpful, funny and were knowledgeable for newbies to South Beach.
The features in the room were beautiful, the slate tile in the standing only shower stall and uneven sink was just perfect. I wasn’t too uncomfortable and yet it wasn’t too high end.
I checked out at $ 99/​per night! If you know anything about Miami that was cheap for this type of hotel.
I went to the beach the day I checked out and was allowed to park my luggage until whenever.
It rained without warning and the lady at the front that day allowed me to use her umbrella for a few hours.
I was right in the middle of everything @12^th street!
Some things to look out for.bugs.I can’t. Set up a citronella candle in the room. you’ll thank me later. There is an open terrace that is around the corner from the hallways to the room. The open feeling makes you think you’re in Italy which is perfect. However, I would have felt safer if the front doors to the lobby had more security after hours.
The toiletries had been resealed — eww, but I never rely on those minimal options. I just can’t. The room stayed cold, no freezing and while I could have asked for an extra blanket I didn’t sleep there much except one late night with too much tequila which at that point I was warm from head to toe. LOL!
Miami is dirty. the streets stay dirty and grimy. I would have suggested cleaning the slate tile floor on each daily cleaning to cut down on the soiled, grimy experience and finding a radio that works with pre programmed stations so I don’t have to figure it out.
Overall fun, sexy and I’ll go back there!

I think some people might be surprised that a hotel that isn’t that big and isn’t that fancy would get 4 stars, but it ain’t always about the internet connection and the flat-​screen TV.
Though the rooms are small and on the old side, there is a lot to recommend Hotel Impala. The location is great – close to everything. We walked to all sorts of restaurants, shopping, beaches, and nightlife in South Beach. The rooms are clean and quiet and all the most important amenities (TV, phone, clock, tiny bottles of shampoo (everyone’s fave), and A/​C) are there.
But where this hotel really stands out is in its service. Most of the customer service we experienced in South Beach was just stanky – rude, inconsistent, non-​existent – and most of the time a 15−18% tip was already included in the bill (we can discuss how it’s possible that having the tip included, though of course you’re free to adjust it, may cultivate poor service). By far the worst service I’ve ever seen in any big city. The staff at Hotel Impala, on the other hand, were courteous, knowledgeable, and went out of their way to help us with recommendations and advice. They also made dinner reservations for us, and managed to find us a room to crash in when we arrived at the hotel at 5am (thank God!). One day we left a free map we picked up at the airport in the lobby and they returned it to us the next time we came in. And it was just a stupid free map! Now that’s personal service, and ultimately it made our stay much more enjoyable than shiny new furniture or a giant bathroom would have.